American Atheists Viewpoint

Sunday January 22, 2017 On the eve of inauguration of Donald Trump, and before participation in a Saturday march, a reporter asks Nick Fish if American Atheists is a partisan organization.  If not partisan, then why an official presence at the DC march?  In this episode Nick explains why American Atheists are marching, and why the concerns of the organization are indeed non-partisan. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanAtheist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAtheists American Atheist's poli

Sunday January 15, 2017 Nick discusses the current senate confirmation hearings for Jeff Sessions, president-elect Trump's pick for US Attorney General.  While there is a list of unsavory aspects of this choice, Nick focuses on Senator Sessions's claim that secular people cannot understand truth without understanding religious truth. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanAtheist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAtheists Daily Beast Story of Sessions: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2017/01/1

Sunday January 8, 2017 Multiple states pushing forward "bathroom bills" very similar to the infamous North Carolina HB2.  Nick contrasts the number of people assaulted in bathrooms by people who are transgender to the number of people assaulted in churches.  (Spoiler – churches have had a few assaults). Nick then discusses a Texas Judge's recent ruling allowing doctors to refuse providing any healthcare services to people who are transgender, or those who have had an abortion. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/A

Sunday January 1, 2017 From the cover story of American Atheist magazine; Nick discusses the appointing of federal judgeships and how the large number of vacancies in the federal court system are about to be filled by the incoming administration, and how that affects legal issues regarding atheism that will be facing the court. In the second half of the program, the constitutionality of Blaine Amendments are going before the Supreme Court, and Nick points out how this may change the legality of churches being given tax dollars. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheist

Sunday December 25, 2016 Happy Christmas! Nick discusses an email he received from Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, a fundamentalist christian organization working for the integration, rather than the separation, of church and state. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanAtheist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAtheists Family Research Council on Wikipedia (because we're not linking to the site) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_Research_Council Music courtesy of Lee Rosevere, Bikin

Sunday December 18, 2016 How American Atheists is putting your donations to work, and the important upcoming church state battles we see on the horizon. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanAtheist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAtheists Planned Giving Page for American Atheists: http://www.atheists.org/planned-giving             Music courtesy of Lee Rosevere, Biking in the Park, Music For Podcasts: http://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/trac

Sunday December 11, 2016 A discussion of billboards placed by American Atheists; their marketing, design, target markets, and the response by the media. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanAtheist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAtheists Billboard news story: http://news.atheists.org/2016/12/01/atheists-billboards-say-skip-church-for-a-merrier-christmas/ Music courtesy of Lee Rosevere, Biking in the Park, Music For Podcasts: http://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/track/biking-in-the-park

Sunday December 4, 2016 Nick begins this episode with another update from the Trump Transition Team; Georgia Representative Tom Price was nominated for Secretary of Health and Human Services.  Representative Price is a strong proponent against the ACA requirement of providing contraceptive care, claiming the requirement is an affront to the religious liberty of many Americans.  Also of note are his strong opposition to anti-discrimination laws and his opposition to abortion. Finally, the Holiday Billboards are back up around the nation, sending the message that religion is not required to have a Happy Holidays! American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your f

Sunday November 27, 2016 Betsy DeVos was recently nominated as the Secretary of Education.  This is troubling as she is a strong advocate for school vouchers, which may lead to taxpayer money going directly to religious schools. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  Official statement from Dave Silverman on Betsy DeVos: http://www.atheistvoter.org/_atheists_express_grave_concern_about_devos_as_education_secretary_voucher_policy American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanAtheist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAtheists Music courtesy o

Sunday November 20, 2016 Nick begins by giving us a brief primer on Presidential-elect Donald Trump's newest cabinet appointment.  He has nominated Jeff Sessions for US Attorney General who, based on statements in the past, apparently believes that to have both a sense of reality and a sense of morality you must be sufficiently religious. Nick then goes on to explain the 1st Amendment Defense Act which is a bill that would prohibit the federal government from taking actions against any business, person, or organization that discriminates against individuals identifying as LGBTQIAA. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINK

Sunday November 13 Much of the rhetoric from Donald Trump during the campaign was concerning - but of the actual policy positions very little was clearly defined.  President-Elect Trump's transition team has said they are committed to religious freedom, and have used other code words we have heard in the past from religious fundamentalists keen on forcing the rest of the nation to follow their archane rules and belief structures.  American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  Atheists ask Trump to keep religion out of government:  http://news.atheists.org/2016/11/09/atheists-call-on-trump-to-reject-divisive-r

Seriously, go vote on Tuesday November 8th, 2016 Sunday November 6, 2016 Democrats in the recent past have received a boost from non-religous voters, and Nick discusses how the affliation of the evangelical christian conservative movement has driven a large number of non-religious voters away from the Republican party. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Atheist Voter!: http://www.atheistvoter.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanAtheist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAtheists   Music courtesy of Lee Rosevere, Bik

Sunday October 30, 2016 The Southern Poverty Law Center just released a list of anti-Muslim extremists, and Nick explains why he feels the list may be slightly counter-productive to the goal of ending bigotry against Muslim individuals due to the inclusion of a few people who are actively working against extremism within Islam. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  Southern Poverty Law Center story: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/10/27/southern-poverty-law-center-ayaan-hirsi-ali-and-maajid-nawaz-are-anti-muslim-extremists/ American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitte

Sunday October 23, 2016 In the last two presidential debates, neither party's candidate mentioned god or brought up their faith.  Is this speaking volumes about the fading power of the religious right in American politics? Recently the candidates began discussing who they were considering appointing to the US Supreme Court.  Nick and Dave discuss how the majority of recent major decisions talked about by the mainstream media, abortion access, marriage equality, religious exemptions, money in politics, are actually church state separation issues. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheist Matchi

Sunday October 16, 2016 In election news, Evangelical support of Donald Trump is showing a growing disconnect between leaders of the Evangelical church and those who identify as Evangelical. Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin urges church leaders to ignore IRS rules by endorsing candidates, demonstrating another example of the Christian privilege enjoyed by churches in the United States. In News of the Weird, Oklahoma governor Mary Fallon as amended her "Oil Field Prayer Day" decree, as apparently she didn't feel it was inclusive enough.  No news yet on why an "Oil Field Prayer Day" was needed. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast liste

Sunday October 9, 2016 Nick provides commentary and thoughts on the recent United States Vice Presidential debate, in which both candidates were asked about the role of personal religion in shaping public policy.  How should elected officials balance religious values with those of the entire constituency, how would their faith affect public policy? American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanAtheist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAtheists Vice Presidential candidates discuss faith: http://w

Sunday October 2, 2016 Discussion between Nick Fish and Dave Silverman regarding Donald Trump's relationship with conservative christians, and how the political power of evangelical christians has been waning over the last 12 years while support for atheist positions is showing promise among those on the conservative right. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanAtheist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAtheists  Support American Atheists!: http://www.atheists.org/monthly Trump singles out

September 25, 2016 Nick begins the episode with a recent survey from PRRI (Public Religious Research Institute) which shows an increase in the number of people in the US who identify as Non-Religious.  He then explores the idea of the non-religious turning out to vote in elections, regardless of who they choose to vote for. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheists.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmericanAtheist Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmericanAtheists   PRRI Survey: http://www.prri.org/research/prri-rns-2016-religiously-unaffilia

Sunday September 18, 2016 The show begins with discussion of a Collier County, Florida High School principal who is threatening ejection of students from school activities who sit or kneel during the national anthem or pledge of allegiance citing "disruptive behaviour". The show then transitions to a primer on Mother Theresa, and why the Catholic Church's canonization of her is problematic. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS: Collier County principal: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/florida-forces-students-to-stand-during-national-anthem_us_57dc4832e4b0071a6e0765b3?section=& Salt Lake Tribune Op-ed on Mothe

Sunday September 11, 2016 Nick Fish discusses the recent remarks in a New Hampshire bookstore by Ohio Governor John Kasich who, apparently without prompting, made a bizarre and seemingly random comment addressing the atheism of Daniel Radcliffe, calling it "weird", and asking "what the h-ll is wrong with him".  Nick describes explains how the Governor is out of step with a large majority of his own constituents when it comes to atheism, and alerts listeners to an open letter penned by American Atheists to the Ohio Governor. American Atheists is a national 501(c)(3) organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.  Follow our updates on Twitter and Facebook, and download this podcast in iTunes, Google Play, Stitcher, your computer, or just by using your favorite podcast listening app. LINKS:  American Atheists Homepage: http://www.atheis